4-Day Niigata Itinerary (Japan), The Land of Sake, Snow, Rice, Gold, and Adventure!

Japan is one of the world’s top travel destinations, and it’s no news that a lot of tourists typically focus on the “usuals”, namely Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka. Of course, these are amazing places that are worth anyone’s time, BUT if you want to go off the beaten path in order to explore a new prefecture that can easily take your breath away, hop on a shinkansen (bullet train) in Tokyo and head off to Niigata — the land of sake, snow, rice, gold, and adventure… which just so happens to be a short 2-hour ride away!

After all, Niigata is famous among the Japanese as one of the country’s top culinary and getaway hotspots, so I hope that a lot of travelers would come to discover this fact (much like how I discovered it for myself).

I visited this stunning place last year with the help of Niigata’s Tourism Board and they crafted up an itinerary that made me see the beauty of the prefecture in its entirety, albeit the small amount of time that I had.

To sum up my trip: it was phenomenal.

Niigata absolutely surprised me with the vast array of fun activities that it had: foodie explorations, cultural immersions, sightseeing, gold picking (YES you can get some gold dust for yourself), and so much MORE!

Without further ado, let me show you my 4-day Niigata itinerary which you could either copy or alter depending on your travel preference and travel dates..

Pre-Travel Guide

Where to get the best flight deals to get to Niigata city?My go-to platforms for grabbing the best flight deals are Momondo and Skyscanner. But of course, it’s always good practice to first research the budget airlines that exist in the country that you’re currently staying in because they could have rock-bottom prices that are not often visible in the above flight search engines.

The main airport in the capital of Niigata is Niigata Airport which primarily has flights from South Korea, China, and Guam. If you’re already located in Japan, there are domestic flights from Osaka, Sapporo, Nagoya, Fukuoka, and Sado. Once you’re at Niigata Airport, there is a shuttle bus that stops at JR Niigata South Exit station (cost of ¥400 one way).

Other options for getting in to Niigata:

By train. There are several trains that go to Niigata, but your best bet especially when coming from Tokyo is to take the “Toki” or “Max Toki” shinkansen (bullet train) on JR East’s Joetsu Shinkansen line. It takes just about 2 hours and costs about ¥10,500 one-way ($90~ or Php 4,500~). It’s best to purchase a JR East pass or a Japan Rail pass for this if you’re staying in Japan for a long time and planning to jump from one place to another because these passes offer unlimited FREE travel on JR train lines upon purchase. Anyhow, your train costs can go lower if you take the Moonlight Echigo from Shinjuku (but it takes 6 hours: leaves at night and arrives in Niigata early morning) for ¥5,900 each way. This can go lower for ¥2,000 during Seishun 18 promo season which is usually around March 1 – April 10, July 20 – September 20, and December 10 to January 10.

By bus.Look out for “Niigata Kotsu”. You can ride this from Tokyo (5.5 hours, ¥5,250 one way), Nagoya (7.5 hours, ¥7,800 one way), or Sendai (3.8 hours, ¥4,500 one way). It also travels overnight from Osaka and Kyoto (8 hours, ¥8,450 each way).

How to get around?I will include transport instructions per activity on the itinerary below.

If you need further help in regards to getting around, just use the directions feature in Google Maps — I find this as a very helpful tool if I want to reach a certain place from a particular location. (However, Google Maps doesn’t work offline if you want routes or transportation schedules, so I recommend that you get a pocket WiFi or a SIM Card to stay connected online).

Niigata Itinerary

Now, before I begin with the itinerary travel guide, if in case you’re more of a visual person, you can already watch my video below to get a ‘peek’ into the adventures that I have done in Niigata during my 4-day stay!

NOTE: The following section is in a tabbed format; so, in order to see the next day’s contents, just click the headings below. Also, take note that the 4-day Niigata itinerary below does not take into account your arrival day — at any rate, if you’re staying longer in the region, you can make use of the last tab called as ‘Extras’ to see the other activities or trips you can do for filling up the rest of your vacation days.

From Tokyo, we took the “Toki” or “Max Toki” shinkansen (bullet train) of the JR East’s Joetsu Shinkansen line in the morning.

You can easily access this train from Tokyo Station, Ueno Station or Ōmiya Station (you can check by Google Maps to map out your route in order to reach one of these 3 stations as dependant on where you are located in Tokyo).

Upon arrival…

◘◘ Eat hegisoba for lunchThis is one of Niigata’s local dishes and it’s basically a soba (Japanese buckwheat thin noodles) that is made of funori (seaweed) which is unlike the typical soba that uses wheat. Because of this, hegisoba has a smooth yet ‘al dente‘ texture that it is well-known amongst the Japanese.

This is typically served on a rectangular wooden plate in which the noodles are already sectioned into individual mouthful portions, thereby making it very easy to consume. How to best eat hegisoba? You could either eat it as is, or dip it in the mentsuyu (black-colored soup base that will be provided to you) which you can further flavor with sesame seeds, radish, wasabi, or green onions.Recommended: Kojimaya CoCoLo Niigata (one branch is located in Niigata station)

◘◘ Visit Saitou Villa (includes a geisha show and snacks)This is a summer villa that was built back in 1920 by a wealthy merchant in Niigata. Today, it is a place used to welcome honored guest in the city such as public figures, and celebrities; but more commonly, it is a place that’s preserved and revered as a valued cultural building.

And for just about $26, you can explore Saitou Villa’s room and gardens, taste some Japanese sweets and matcha (green tea), AND be entertained by Furumachi geigi (geisha of Niigata). This is a steal of course, especially if you compare it to the expensive fee that you need to pay just to meet a real geisha in a dinner banquet program (which will almost be similar to what you’ll experience here!).
Transport & Travel Guide: Niigata Hanamachi Chaya

The Furumachi district of Niigata is considered one of the three most prestigious areas in Japan for geisha, along with Gion in Kyoto and Shinbashi in Tokyo. Hence, witnessing Niigata’s geisha is a must-do!

◘◘ Drop by Imayotsukasa Sake BreweryNiigata is well-known for producing the finest sake or nihonshu (Japanese liquor). Why so? Simply because of the snow. With the prefecture’s bountiful snowfall on its mountains, it has constantly yielded conditions that are perfect for making sake: purified air from constant snowing and snow-melted waters (great for growing rice paddies and brewing sake).

To best enjoy this, head on ever to Imayotsukasa Sake Brewery because you can then go on a FREE tour of their establishment as you learn more about the making of sake. What’s more, you can even taste some of their products! (My favorite sake bottles are: Moto, Karyu-kai and Junmai).Transport & Travel Guide: Imayotsukasa Website

◘◘ Grab dinner at an izakaya
Prolong your enjoyment of Niigata’s high-quality sake by visiting a typical Japanese gastropub that’s called as an ‘izakaya‘.

TRIVIA: Apparently, the Japanese typically like to grab ramen (noodle dish) after a long night of drinking since it is said to help them handle the alcohol, as well as help them deal with a hangover later on!

For this day, we headed over to Sado Island which is a part of the prefecture. In order to get here, we took the Jetfoil jet boat with the route Niigata – Ryotsu and it departs every hour with a cost of ¥6,520 yen. (It takes about an hour to get to Sado Island from Niigata port with a fast boat like this).

If you want cheaper options, there are the other ferry routes:

Naoetsu–Ogi: ¥2,720 yen, 2.5 hours, 4-5 times daily

Teradomari–Akadomari: ¥2,960 yen, 2 hours, 2-3 times daily

Upon arrival…

◘◘ Play at Sado Island’s Taiko CentreA ‘taiko‘ is a traditional Japanese percussion instrument, and one of Japan’s most popular taiko group that is also known internationally is called as Kodo. Hailed from Sado Island, they have built this fun Tatakokan (Taiko Centre) so that visitors can have a hands-on experience from Kodo instructors on how to play the taiko.

This was an experience that I truly enjoyed and it will surely be an even more fun activity if you come with a number of friends or family!Transport & Travel Guide: Kodo Taiko

◘◘ Try a tarai-bune (tub boat)YES, you read that right! These cut-off barrels are a kind of tub boat that were practical to use in the olden times in order to collect shellfish and seaweed from rocky coastal waters. Today however, they are mainly used to amuse travelers in Sado Island.

Riding this boat actually made me anxious (well yes, it is a ‘tub boat’ after all); rest assured, it’s perfectly safe and a totally fun and interesting thing to do!Transport & Travel Guide: You can acquire this service from Ogi port or at Yajima-Kyojima area (which has more scenic surroundings). They are open daily throughout the year (8:30AM to 5:00PM), spans for 10 minutes, can hold 3 persons on one tub boat, and costs ¥500 for adults and ¥300 for children.

◘◘ Pick up and bring home some gold dust at Nishi-Mikawa gold parkIf you head over to this hands-on museum, you will not only learn more about Sado’s famed gold activities but also of the process of mining and refining it. The special thing about this museum though is its epic gold-picking activity!

For only ¥800 yen, you can try gold panning for 30 minutes in the beginners course area. Furthermore, you can keep the gold dust that you will find within that time frame! YES, you really can take it home.Transport & Travel Guide: Nishi-Mikawa Website

◘◘ Walk around Senkakuwan Ageshima Yuen-ParkThis is a park that provides glorious coastal sights over Senkaku-wan Bay. For the best 360 views, go to the vicinity’s Ageshima Observatory and Yusenkyo Bridge.Transport & Travel Guide: Ageshima

◘◘ Tour Sado Kinzan (Sado Gold Mine)Financed by the Tokugawa shogunate for 388 years from 1601 to 1989, this is the island’s most important historical site — in fact, because of its rich history (being Japan’s largest gold mine in that era) it is now actively promoted for nomination as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Once inside the tunnels, you’ll see several exhibitions of robots that portray the miners during the Edo period (as a way of recreating the past atmosphere or look).Transport & Travel Guide: Sado Kinzan Website

◘◘ Check in to a hotel or ryokan in the island
A quintissential trip to Japan is NOT complete without a trip to a ryokan (Japanese traditional inn). Some of the bucketlist things to do once booked inside one: sleep on a tatami-matted room, try the onsen (hot spring baths), wear a yukata, and eat a kaiseki (traditional multi-course Japanese dinner)! Other choices are:Luxury: Hotel Azuma / Mid-Range: Kohan no Yado Yoshidaya or AirBnB / Budget: Sado Bellemer Youth Hostel

Rode a jet boat to get back to Niigata port and city.

◘◘ Go see the Hoppō Bunka Hakubutsukan (Northern Culture Museum)This is an open-air museum that features the famous mansion of Ito Bunkichi who was one of the greatest landowners in Niigata during the Edo Period. Other than the mansion, it also houses a picturesque garden, artworks, calligraphy works, ceramics, and so much more.

You could also eat lunch here in the former kitchen of the Ito family so that you could taste typical local dishes that were served back in those times!
Transport & Travel Guide: Northern Cultural Museum Website

◘◘ Welcome yourself into Niigata’s Senbei Okoku (Kingdom)Rice is made all over Japan, but it is in Niigata where you can find the BEST-tasting rice that there can ever be in the country. Naturally, senbei (rice cracker) production is a hit in Niigata with Kuriyama Beika Group as one of the most popular brands.

It is here in Senbei Okoku where they then offer its visitors the chance to taste freshly-baked crackers, buy several souvenirs, and see the actual cooking process up close. They even offer the chance for people to make, roast, and design their own rice crackers! It’s an enjoyable activity for sure, especially for families.
Transport & Travel Guide: Senbei Website

◘◘ Make sasadango at Tanakaya Minato KoboDango (sticky rice cake) is a popular traditional snack in Japan and in Niigata, they have their own unique version called as ‘sasa dango’. Basically, these are made from steamed and pounded glutinous rice with red bean paste filling which are then wrapped and tied using sasa (bamboo leaf). As a final touch, it will be steamed altogether.

If you head over to Tanakaya Minato Kobo, apart from tasting and taking it home as a souvenir, you could also go through a mini cooking class in order to learn how to make sasadango!Transport & Travel Guide: Koubou Website

◘◘ Walk around MinatopiaIf you’re interested about the history of Niigata’s metropolis, visiting Minatopia is a must. Apart from the museum and building structures (such as the Niigata Customs House) in the area that explains the past of the city, this spot is also a great place for admiring the Shinano River.Address: 2-10 Yanagishima

◘◘ Stroll through the city’s main shopping streetMake your way towards the Bandai and/or Furumachi area to take your time in picking the places you’ll eat and shop in — besides, they have an array of wonderful selections for you to choose from!

◘◘ Check in to Hotel Nikko
I recommend this Hotel Nikko because it has a superb 360 view over Niigata’s cityscape which can be easily seen not only from inside your room but also from its topmost floor.

We made our way out of the city to do the following:

◘◘ Explore and pick fruits at Shirone Grape GardenThis establishment is full of greenhouses that organically grow several types of fruits such as kiwis, persimmons (a must to try because it was soooo good!), grapes, peaches, strawberries and more. And depending on the time of your visit, you can pick fruits for FREE!

To cap off your visit, make sure to try their popular gelatos which are all made from natural ingredients.Transport & Travel Guide: Kudamonogari Website

◘◘Stop by Yahiko ShrineSmacked in the middle of a lush forest and at the foot of a mountain, Yahiko Shrine in Yahiko Village is widely adored and worshipped by the Japanese.

Experience and observe the different shrine or Shinto practices here! One interesting thing you can also do is to buy an omikuji which is a random written divination about your near future. These are left out on a wooden box near the shrine with a price label on it (it’s typically self-serving like this). Pay the price, pick a folded paper from the box and see your fortune! For my first time, I drew a daikichi which meant ‘excellent luck’. My guide said that I should make full use of it and do things like buying lottery tickets, etc. haha!

Travel Directions Guide: Go over to Niigata station, take the Echigo Line that goes to the direction of Yoshida (各停). Stop at Yoshida station (14 stops total) and change to a different line, Yahiko Line that heads to Yahiko (各停). Stop at Yahiko Station (2 stops total).

◘◘ Dine at Cave D’Occi WinerySet in the plains of Kakudahama, Cave d’Occi Vinespa is a multipurpose winery resort that includes not only a restaurant but a spa, an onsen (hot spring bath), and a guest house (for visitors who want to spend more time in exploring the vineyards).

Make sure to buy or try their wines since they taste really good!Transport & Travel Guide: Docci Website

◘◘ Look through TsubameSanjo Regional Industries Promotion CentreIf you want to buy more souvenirs from Niigata to take home, making a stop by this centre should be up on your travel itinerary.

Basically, Tsubame-Sanjo is one of the most sought-after Japanese brands when it comes to metalworks or items due to their high quality and craftmanship; so, it’s definitely worth your time to take a peek here.Transport & Travel Guide: TsubameSanjo Website

◘◘ Walk around MinamiuonumaThis city is a popular winter destination due to its superb location. Once there, you’ll have a choice of over 10 ski and snowboard resorts which are a mix of large and small establishments that are suitable for all levels of skiers and snowboarders.

Rest assured, if you’re coming on a month with no snow, there are various things to do here still, and one of my favorites is exploring Bokushi Dori (street) which is also called as Shiozawajuku. Walking through this area is like stepping back in time given how it is speckled with Edo Period houses and shops.Transport & Travel Guide: Minamiuonuma Website

◘◘ Check into a ryokan such as Hotel FutabaIf you want the best ryokan (Japanese inn) stay that you can ever experience, check out Hotel Futaba!

If you’ve got the time, I highly recommend the following:

◘◘ Go to Ponshukan
Ponshukan can be found at Echigo-Yuzawa station and it is a hall that features several attractions:

Sake vending machines: it’s exactly what the name implies! With over 96 different brands available, you just have to buy a cup worth ¥500 only, put a plastic token in the machine’s coin slot, slip in your cup, and then it will be filled to the brim with sake. If in doubt, there are staff people who would gladly assist you!

Sake shop: are you rather looking for bottles of sake? Next door is a sake shop that has over 96 varieties.

Shopping area: there are various small stalls around the Ponshukan hall that offer various goods from sweets to souvenirs.

Onsen: if you want a unique kind of onsen experience, next door is also an onsen but what sets it apart from typical onsens is that you can dip here in sake!!

Guinness World Record: If you go deep inside Ponshukan, you will find a shop that has the largest display of handmade stuffed toys (11,655) that are tied through strings. This was achieved by Incorporated Non-Profit Organization Japan Tsurushi-bina Association and Akira Kitano last 2012.

◘◘ Drop by Niigata Furusato Village
This is technically NOT a village as it is more of a tourism facility that houses a HUGE array of products that are perfect for souvenirs: soba, crafts, goods, dairy, sake — you’ll find it all here. You will even find some exhibits here that depict Niigata’s history, and when you want some nature, just step out and you’ll see a massive field full of 60,000 tulips!

◘◘ Take Instagram-worthy photos at Hoshi-Toge Rice Field
Dubbed as “Japan’s 100 best rural spots”, this rice terraced fields have their own unique look that are best visited either during sunrise or sunset. I assure you that the view from this area will take your breath away!

◘◘ Visit Yahiko Park (Maple Valley)Best to do during Autumn. When in Yahiko Village area, make sure to drop by Yahiko Park. In here, you will find great sceneries that beautifully expresses each 4 seasons. Autumn season is actually the best time to come here because vermillion-lacquered Kan-tsuki Bridge perfectly blends in with all of the hot colors.

◘◘ Ski at one of the prefecture’s ski resorts such as Akakura Kanko Resort and SpaBest to do during Winter (December to May). This resort is said to be the first in Japan to be designated as an international ski resort. You can do a lot of activities here: snowboarding and 11 trails (longest at 4km among many others. There is even a special area called the Chibikko Hiroba which is for children who are too young to hit the slopes.

◘◘ Attend at least one (1) Niigata event or festival
Some of the most interesting ones are…

Sake no Jin (Niigata Sake Festival): Held mid-March, as the land of sake, this is one of Niigata’s major events. In this festival, you can sample over 500 varieties of sake from approximately 90 local brewers! Just purchase a tasting ticket and you’re sure to have a great time through and through!

Tokamachi Snow Festival: Sapporo might be the most famous snow festival, but Niigata’s is actually the oldest and probably the most laid-back and authentic snow celebration as well. Furthermore, with the heavy snowfall in the area, there is no shortage of sculptures that are dispersed all over town! If you’re interested in witnessing this spectacle, you should come on the 3rd Saturday of February.

Oiran Dochu Courtesan Procession: Oirans no longer exist in Japan, but as a way of commemorating their unique beauty and culture as high-rank courtesans and entertainers, processions like this are often held in Japan. Niigata has its own and it’s usually held in the middle of April in Jizoudouhonchoudoori, Tsubame (Ookouzu banks, near Bunsui station).

Niigata Hanae Project: Since Niigata is one of Japan’s major tulip producers, this event that’s held from April 29 to May 2 is where participants will create giant “flower paintings” using tulips that were discarded in the process of bulb cultivation.

Nagaoka Festival: As per usual, you would expect float parades and folk dance processions in festivals like this; BUT the main highlight of this affair held at August 1 to 3 is its large-scale fireworks display that happens over the Shinano River. Helpful to note is that it is considered as one of the top 3 fireworks shows in Japan since you would often witness insane stuff like: 650-meter giant sanshakudama fireworks, waterfall shapes, volcano-like formations, and 20,000 smaller shakudama fireworks.

Niigata Festival: Lasting for 3 days starting in August 7, you will see a lot of float parades, firework displays, and dance processions (that customarily involves around 20,000 people)!

Earth Festival: Held in Sado Island in August, the highlight of this festival is the performance of the world-famous taiko drummer group, Kado. This festival lasts for 3 days and includes various events in an open air concert style.

.

Booking Essentials

Overall

Niigata surprised me.

There are a LOT of things to see, do, and discover in this amazing destination — which is apparently well-known among the Japanese locals as one of the country’s top culinary hotspots (and I guarantee you, it is!).

So if you’re already somewhere in Tokyo, Kyoto or even Osaka, come and give Niigata a try! I bet you will love it as much as I did; and besides, it’s just a few hours away by train.

26 comments

Hi Aileen, I was inspired by your Niigata experience. My husband and I are booked for Niigata on 13-16 Oct 2018 in celebration of our 30th wedding anniversary. It is not our first time in Japan but our first in NIigata for an awesome autumn experience. We'll be staying in Art Hotel. Could you recommend a tour guide that could bring us around? I'll appreciate your help. Thanks in advance.

Oh wow, I'm happy to hear that! Enjoy your trip! As for the tour guide, unfortunately, their tourism board was the one who toured me around but I bet that if you contact them, they'll be able to send you an English-speaking guide. Try contacting them here http://enjoyniigata.com/en/contact.html or here https://www.nvcb.or.jp/travelguide/en/.

As a citizen in NIIGATA, I really appreciate your work done for NIIGATA.
The video you created is soooo good!!!
I would recommend your site and video when I want to tell foreigners what NIIGATA looks like.

My mission? To show you how it is absolutely possible to create a life of travel too (no matter the odds), and I will help you achieve that through my detailed travel guides, adventures, resources, tips, and MORE!